Parcells and Porter met several years back through mutual friends. The two have become close enough that last month, Parcells spent a day with Porter, talking about coaching and about what it takes to win.

"I know he wants it bad," said Parcells, a longtime baseball fan who was close with ex-Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. "That inspires me to give it everything I have to help him."

But sometimes the situation won't let you win.

Parcells knows that. Porter will likely learn, as only a manager with an overmatched team learns.

Dave Trembley learned. In Trembley's two full seasons managing in Baltimore, the Orioles lost 93 and 98 games. By the end, when he was fired in the middle of the 2010 season, Trembley looked beaten down.

And he never lost 100 games in a season. Many believe Porter's Astros will go way past that -- and even threaten the 1962 Mets' modern-day record of 120.

Trembley's Orioles couldn't compete in the American League East. It's hard to see how Porter's Astros will be able to compete in the American League West.

"The AL West now is what the AL East was then," Trembley said.

Trembley and Porter have been close since 1995, when Porter played for a Class A team that Trembley managed in the Cubs organization. He played three seasons for Trembley in the minors, and came away saying that if he ever got a chance to manage in the major leagues, Trembley would be on his staff.

Now Trembley is a Porter believer.

"He's competitive, but he's got a plan," Trembley said. "He's got a vision. You want these guys play. They play with passion."

For now, they do. The Astros are thrilled with the way their spring has gone. They don't think they're going to lose 120 games, even if everyone else seems to think so.

For now, they have Porter's passion.

"It's hard to be around me and not have passion," Porter said Monday.

We'll check back on that once the season starts. We'll check back on that in June or July.